[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 64 (Tuesday, May 19, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H3419-H3420]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             WETLANDS AND WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 1998

  Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2556) to reauthorize the North American Wetlands 
Conservation Act and the Partnerships for Wildlife Act, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2556

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Wetlands and Wildlife 
     Enhancement Act of 1998''.

     SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS 
                   CONSERVATION ACT.

       Section 7(c) of the North American Wetlands Conservation 
     Act (16 U.S.C. 4406(c)) is amended by striking ``not to 
     exceed'' and all that follows through the end of the sentence 
     and inserting ``not to exceed $30,000,000 for each of fiscal 
     years 1999 through 2001.''.

     SEC. 3. REAUTHORIZATION OF PARTNERSHIPS FOR WILDLIFE ACT.

       Section 7105(h) of the Partnerships for Wildlife Act (16 
     U.S.C. 3744(h)) is amended by striking ``for each of fiscal 
     years'' and all that follows through the end of the sentence 
     and inserting ``not to exceed $3,000,000 for each of fiscal 
     years 1999 through 2001.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Colorado (Mr. Hefley) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley).
  Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, today we are voting on H.R. 2556, which authorizes the 
North American Wetlands Conservation Act and the Partnerships for 
Wildlife Act.
  The North American Wetlands Conservation Act is one of several 
programs devoted to improving wetlands protection in the United States, 
Canada and Mexico. It matches Federal dollars with contributions from 
State, local and private organizations for wetland conservation 
projects in the U.S., Canada and Mexico that support the North American 
Wildlife Management plan. The program has resulted in the protection of 
more than 3 million acres of wetlands in the U.S. and Canada over the 
past seven years.
  The population of most species of migratory ducks and geese in North 
America have been increasing for the past several years. It is 
impossible to say whether or not any single program has caused this 
increase, but habitat conservation is certainly making an important 
contribution. There is widespread agreement that the North

[[Page H3420]]

American Wetlands Conservation Act is a critical part of this effort. 
The bill, as amended at subcommittee, is strongly supported by Ducks 
Unlimited and the International Association of Fish and Wildlife 
Agencies.
  The Partnerships for Wildlife Act was enacted to ensure that nongame, 
non-endangered wildlife did not slip through the cracks between 
existing conservation programs. It also matches Federal dollars with 
State and local funds to support a wide variety of wildlife 
conservation and appreciation projects.
  H.R. 2556 reauthorizes the North American Wetlands Conservation Act 
at its current authorization levels for three years. I urge Members to 
vote aye on this important environmental bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2556. This 
bill helps protect wildlife habitat and will enhance the management of 
nongame wildlife. I want to thank the subcommittee chairman, the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton) for bringing this legislation 
before the House. The bill reauthorizes the highly successful North 
American Wetlands Conservation Act and will improve the management of 
nongame species of wildlife by reauthorizing the program of Federal 
matching grants for such activities.
  In the seven years of its existence, the North American Wetlands 
Conservation Act has resulted in the protection of millions of acres of 
wetlands in the United States, Canada and Mexico. $244 million in North 
American wetlands programs grants for this voluntarily, non-regulatory 
program have been matched by more than $510 million in funding by 
conservation partners, conserving valuable habitat for migratory birds 
and many non-migratory species as well.
  The amendment also reauthorizes the Partnerships for Wildlife Act, 
which provides matching grants for nongame wildlife conservation and 
appreciation. Unfortunately, we do not have a dedicated source of 
funding like the Wallop-Breaux Fund for nongame conservation. Lacking a 
dedicated source of funding, conservation needs for these species are 
mounting. For example, the states currently estimate their unmet needs 
for management and conservation of nongame species at over $300 million 
annually.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope we have the opportunity to give permanent funding 
for nongame species serious consideration in the near future. But, in 
the meantime, we will continue doing what we can under the Partnerships 
for Wildlife Program.
  In summary, this is sound legislation to benefit wildlife through 
non-regulatory programs that leverage scarce Federal resources, and I 
urge the House to support H.R. 2556.
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act 
is a program that has proven itself in many ways. The law was designed 
to be a catalyst for partnerships between various levels of government 
and the private sector to accomplish incentive-based wetlands 
conservation. It demanded a non-federal match in order to level federal 
dollars and the match that has been produced has more than doubled that 
required threshold. This high match level is one evidence of the 
success of partnership the Act intended and delivered.
  Another group of very important partners are the members of the North 
American Wetlands Council. These unpaid volunteers contribute 
incredible numbers of man hours to this process. Ducks Unlimited is an 
excellent example of a Wetlands Council member. From the beginning of 
the program DU has volunteered to serve. They not only commit the 
equivalent of a full time staff member to assist in carrying out 
Council business, they play a key role in communicating support for the 
program on Capitol Hill. They have contributed by far and away more 
match funding continentally for these projects than any other partner 
group. It is partners like DU with a demonstrated level of commitment 
that the Act envisions should serve on the North American Wetlands 
Conservation Council. That kind of commitment is what creates this 
program's level of success.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2556, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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